Switch point connection



- July 7, 1936. B LUNDY 2,046,568

SWITCH POINT CONNECTION Filed Sept. 14, 1934 IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 7, 1936 STATES T OFFICE SWITCH POINT CONNECTION Application September 14, 1934, Serial No. 743,978

3 Claims.

This invention relates to signalling, especially railway signalling, and more particularly to railwa'y electric signalling. I

Those familiar with the art of railway signal- -ling know that there has always been a considerable dilficulty in properly connecting a circuit controller, positioned at a track switch, with that track switch. This diificulty arises from the fact that the circuit controller, which is 118113113? positioned. upon a track tie adjacent the point of the switch, does not remain in the same alignment with the switch as when originally installed. This is due to the fact, as is well known, that not only do the rails move longitudinally, as

a whole, but each rail does not have the same amount of forward or backward movement. Furthermore,.the angular relation between the tie upon which the circuit controller is secured and the rails does not remain as originally set.

The switch point, furthermore, also has substantially a longitudinal movement which may be independent of that of the adjacent track rails. The switch point also sometimes has a tendency to roll about 'its axis. Added to all of the above mentioned likely changes, there is also the change which is occasioned by the normal wear of the gauge side of the thread of the rail and both sides of the switch point. The effect of all these changes is .to not only bring undue strains upon the connections between the switch point and the circuit controller, but also prevent that close adjustment which is necessary to insure the proper and desired control of the signal circuits by the circuit controller. That 3;, this difficulty is a serious one, may be readily realized when it is known thatthe modern circuit controller attached to a switch point is relied upon to open the signalling circuits governing trafiic over that switch. when the normally 40 closed switch point is opened by an amount not exceeding three sixteenths of an inch. To secure such a close adjustment in structures so large and so rough and subjected to so many conditions causing them to shift is easily realized 4 to be a difficult task.

A principal object of applicant's invention is to provide a means for interconnecting a railway switch point with a railway switch circuit controller, sometimes known as a track switch 50 box in such a way that the ordinary shifting of the various structures effective upon the connection, will not cause an undue strain thereon.

A further object of applicants invention is to provide a connection of the type described which 5, will be so constructed that practically a universal joint will exist at two places between a track switch and a switch circuit controller.

Another object of the applicants invention is to provide a novel form of universal joint which is not only sturdy and flexible in operation but 5 also offers notable improvements from the standpoint of economy in manufacture and ease ofreplacement.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of the particular physical em- 10 bodiment selected to illustrate the invention progresses, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail and the particular physical embodiments selected to 15 illustrate the invention, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing and the several views thereon, in which like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, and in which: 2

Figure 1 is a top plan fragmentary view of a railway switch, its supoprting ties, a switch circuit controller and. connecting means between the circuit controller and track switch constructed in accordance with applicant's inven- 25 tion; Fig.2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the arrangements as shown by Fig. 1, the rail being shown in section; Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal section of one of the socket devices shown by Fig. '2, on the plane indicated by the 30 line III-III of Fig. 2, viewed in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the line; Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view of the other socket device shown by Fig. 2, on the plane indicated by the line IV-IV of Fig. 2, viewed in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the line; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view in side elevation, partly in section, and on a larger scale, of the connecting socket for the switch point lug; Fig.

6 is a cross-sectional view on the plane indicated by the line VI-VI of Fig. 5, viewed in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the line.

In Fig. 1, numeral I designates an ordinary railway track tie. This track tie supports the rail 2 which has a switch point 3 operating in conjunction therewith.

. The tie I also supports an ordinary and well known switch circuit controller 4 sometimes known as a track switch box. This circuit controller is illustrated as of the usual type and has a protruding operating shaft 5 bearing an operating crank arm 6.

The problem confronting applicant was to connect the operating crank arm 6 with the switch point 3 in such a manner that the ordinary shift-.

ing and movement of the various parts would not cause an undue strain upon the connection between operating crank arm 6 and switch point 3 and would at the same time allow an adjustment of the electrical contacts within the switch box 4. such that a departure of the switch point 3 from the rail 2 of more than three sixteenths of an inch would cause the signalling circuits controlling trafiic over the switch to be opened or closedor put in other condition necessary to properly control traffic.

By applicants method of connection, a switch point lug I is fastened by any suitable and appropriate means to the switch point 3. V

The 'lug illustrated is formed of round bar. stock, straight throughout 'its'length, and may have, as shown, a plate 8 welded thereto, of suitable contour to permit the unitary lug structure thus constituted to be readily attached to the switch point, as by bolts 9. The outer, free end ill of the. lug is threaded toreceive a nut ll.

Fitted in the outer end of the operating crank arm 6 of the switch box- 4 applicant providesa bolti2 having'a shoulder l3 bearing against the crank arm head- I4 within which the bolt is fastened in a'suitable manner. The bolt is provided at its outer threaded end with a retaining 'In order to -connect the free lug end [0 with thefree bolt end i8, applicant makes use of a connecting rod or pipe 20 having on each'end 7 thereof a socket of applicants construction.

shown in Fig. 3.

The socket 2| connecting with bolt I2 is best This socket is formed with a fixed concave spherical surface 22 which faces that portion 23 of the bolt which'lies within the socket. Opposite the concave surface 22 is a plunger or movable member 24, formed with a concave spherical surface '25. The plunger 24 plunger 22,- and the other end of which bears against a suitable abutment. In the present case the abutment against whichthe spring 28' bears. is a cap 29 screw threaded into the cylinder 26. 95

Interposed between the bolt'portion 23 and the fixed concave bearing surface 2-2 and movable concave bearing surface 25, I have provided, in pursuance of my invention; a pairof contact elements 3%, preferably" identical in function and in form, and which are therefore identified by the same reference character 3!! wherever they appear throughout the system illustrated.

Each of these contact elements, in the new preferred forms selected for illustration, comprises, a lozenge shaped member having a cylindrical body with one face 3| of convex contour, and thus adapted to cooperate with the contiguous concave face of the fixed bearing surface 22 or of the movable bearing surface 25, as the case'may be, all of thesurfaces being preferably spherical, but notnecessarily of the same radius. In fact I prefer to have the convex surfaces 3i ofsoinewhat shorter radius than the concave surfaces 22 and 25, whereby the universal joint: effect between the connector 20 and bolt 14 is favored.

. Therear face 32 of each of the contact elements 30 is preferably adapted to be seated firmly against the contiguousfree portion 23 of' the bolt l4, and will therefore desirably beof suitableshape to conform therewith.- Forthis purpose the rear face 32 of each of the pair of contact elements in Fig. 3 is of arcuate concave shape and fits snugly against the cylindrical periphery of the bolt, as shown clearly in Fig. 5, to be described more at length hereinafter. The pairs of contact elements 39] just described act therefore, as, the ball member of thejoint At the switch point end of the connection the freeend Ii] of the lug 1 extends through orifices 34 in a cylindrical portion 35 of a V-shaped socket designatedas awhole by 36. -Within the socket the free end portion 31 of the switch point lug is contacted as at 38, by the concave arcuate bases of lozenge shaped contact elements '30 which may be'identical in shape with those already described, having convex faces 3! which are preferably spherical and of slightly shorter radius than the radius of the concave bearing surfaces with whichthey cooperate respectively, to facilitate an easy universal movement relatively thereto.

The socket member 36 is formed at one end with an inner spherical concave surface 39.

Directly opposite the concave surface 39 a plunger 40, having a concave bearing surface 25, just like the plunger 24, bears against the face 3| ofthe cooperating contact element. same way as when spring 28 bears against plunger 24, aspring 4| bears against plunger ifi and abuts against a screw threaded cap 42; The

socket member 36 is also'provided with a portionat an angle to the axis ofv the plunger This portion isdesignated 43, and is best shown in Fig.2, and its interior as shown inFig. 5', is formed with a screw threaded orifice 24 into which a bent end 45 of the pipe or rod 26 may be screwed. By this angle portion applicant provides a socket which greatly facilitates the proper placing of, the pipe or rod Zilso that it. will nicely clear the bottom of the rail 2.

The construction hereinbefore described is ob- In the 7 viously one suchthat practically a universal joint is provided at both the switch point and the cuit controller 4 maybe made, because if wear takes place between the contact elements 30 and the contiguous concave, bearing surfaces, the parts are still tightly held together by the springs 28 and M, so that even if the connections have worn, the adjustment of the switch may be made just as though they had never worn. V

By the. provision of the separately formed 0011-. tact elements 30 abovedescribed, I have made a notable improvement. over, the structure used conventionally in the formation of universal joints in these track switch box connections. Usually theswitch point lug, and the switch box bolt, are made with a spherical headon their respective outer ends, and this head has been formed either integrally, or on a separable part consisting of a short rod, but in any event the fabrication of these spherical heads is attended with considerable difliculty from a manufacturing standpoint, if they are made with desirable accuracy.

It will be understood readily by those skilled in the art that the contact elements 30 can be easily and accurately made very cheaply and to very exact dimensions and that accordingly they offer desirable advantages both in manufacture and for ease of replacement. Their provision permits the use of a switch point lug I and bolt [2 each of which is straight throughout and which therefore has a slip fit within the embracing contact elements 30, to accommodate changes in length of the lug and/or of the bolt due to variations of temperature or creeping.

Although applicant has illustrated and described a particular physical embodiment of his invention, and has explained the construction, principle, and mode of operation thereof, nevertheless, he desired to have it understood that the form selected is merely illustrative but does not exhaust the possible physical embodiments of the idea of means underlying the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a railway track switch box connection, in combination: a lug member adapted for connection with a track switch point, a bolt member adapted to be connected with the crank arm of a track switch box, said switch point lug and said bolt each having a free end, a connecting rod having at one end a socket adapted to embrace and be connected with the free end of said switch point lug, and having at its other end a socket adapted to embrace and be connected with the free end of said bolt; each of said sockets being formed with a fixed bearing surface and each having a movable member formed with a bearing surface presented in opposed relation to said fixed bearing surface, said bearing surfaces in each socket being adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of the free end of that member of the track switch box connection respectively to be connected with said socket; and a pair of contact elements in each socket, said elements in each socket being interposed respectively between said free end thereby embraced and the corresponding fixed and movable bearing surfaces of said socket; and means included in each socket, to hold said contact elements in contiguous operative relation with said bearing surfaces and with the free end of the member thereby embraced, each of said free ends being capable of longitudinal movements in use, relatively to its contiguous contact elements, and each socket being capable of universal movement relatively to the free end embraced by it, without disturbing the snug assembly of said parts.

2. In a railway track switch box connection, in combination: a lug member adapted for connection with a track switch point, a bolt member adapted to be connected with the crank arm of a track switch box, said switch point lug and said bolt each having a free end, and 2, connecting rod having at one end a socket adapted to embrace and be connected to the free end of said switch point lug and having at its other end a socket adapted to embrace and be connected with the free end of said bolt; each of said sockets being formed with a fixed concave bearing surface and each having a plunger member formed with a concave bearing surface presented in opposed relation to said fixed concave bearing surface, said concave bearing surfaces in each socket being adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of the free end of that member of the track switch box connection respectively to be connected with said socket, and a pair of contact elements in each socket, said elements in each socket being interposed respectively between said free end thereby embraced and the corresponding fixed and movable bearing concave surfaces of said socket; and means, comprising a coiled spring and an abutment therefor included in each socket, to hold said contact elements respectively in continguous operative relation with said concave bearing surfaces and with the free end of the member thereby embraced, and said contact elements having each a convex bearing surface to cooperate with the contiguous concave bearing surface, each of said free ends being capable of longitudinal movements in use, relatively to its contiguous contact elements, and each socket being capable of universal movement relatively to the free end embraced by it, without disturbing the snug assembly of said parts.

3. A connector member for a railway track switch box connection of the class comprising a switch point lug, a switch box bolt and a connector member with end sockets adapted to embrace and be connected with the free ends of said bolt and of said lug respectively; said connector member being characterized by having each of said sockets formed with a fixed concave bearing surface and with a plunger member formed with a concave bearing surface presented in opposed relation to said fixed concave bearing surface, said concave bearing surfaces in each socket being adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of the free end of the bolt or of the lug respectively; and

posed respectively between said bolt or lug and the corresponding fixed and movable bearing concave surfaces of said socket; and a coiled spring and an abutment therefor included in each socket, to hold said contact elements in contiguous operative relation with said bearing surfaces and with the bolt or lug thereby embraced, said contact elements having each a convex bearing surface to cooperate with a. contiguous concave bearing surface, and having each a base fitted to the bolt or lug, each of said free ends being capable of longitudinal movements in use, relatively to its contiguous contact elements, and each socket being capable of universal movement relatively to the free end embraced by it, without disturbing the snug assembly of said parts.

BEVERLY A. LUNDY. 

